Alamogordo, New Mexico#Economic development

File:New Mexico - Alamogordo - NARA - 68144761 (cropped).jpg

{{For|the history of aerospace sites outside of the city|White Sands Space Harbor|White Sands Missile Range|Holloman Air Force Base}}

Tularosa Basin has been inhabited for at least 11,000 years. There are signs of previous inhabitants in the area such as the Clovis culture, the Folsom culture, the peoples of the Archaic period, and the Formative stage.{{cite book|first1=Peter L.|last1=Eidenbach|editor1-first=Peter L.|editor1-last=Eidenbach|title=The Prehistory of Rhodes Canyon, N.M.: Survey and Mitigation|year=1983|publisher=Human Systems Research |location=Tularosa, NM|oclc= 11576830|pages=145–149|chapter=XII.Summary and Conclusions}} The Mescalero Apache were already living in the Tularosa Basin when the Spanish came in 1534, and Mescalero oral history says they have always lived there.{{cite web|first=Mary M. |last=Serna |author2=James W. Steely |title=Mescalero Apache |url=http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails.php?fileID=21339 |work=Office of the State Historian: Digital History Project |publisher=State of New Mexico |access-date=August 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227215702/http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails.php?fileID=21339 |archive-date=February 27, 2011}} In 1719, the Spanish built a chapel at La Luz (about {{Convert|5|mi|km}} from the future site of Alamogordo), although La Luz was not settled until about 1860.

{{cite book|last1=Julyan|first1=Robert|title=The Place Names of New Mexico|edition=Revised|year=1998 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press|isbn=0-8263-1689-1|page=191}}{{cite book|last1=Gilbert|first1=Beth|title=Alamogordo: The Territorial Years, 1898–1912|date=June 1988|publisher=Starline Printing|location=Albuquerque |oclc=18265396}}

{{Rp|167}}

The city of Alamogordo was founded in June 1898, when the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, headed by Charles Bishop Eddy, extended the railway to the town.{{Rp|4, 6–7}} Eddy influenced the design of the community, which included large, wide thoroughfares and tree-lined irrigation canals.{{cite web |title=Alamogordo-city of the "big cottonwood" |date=November 26, 2001 |publisher=SouthernNewMexico.com |access-date=July 28, 2009 |url=http://www.southernnewmexico.com/southeast-new-mexico/alamogordo-city-of-the-fat-cottonwood |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614063731/http://www.southernnewmexico.com/southeast-new-mexico/alamogordo-city-of-the-fat-cottonwood |archive-date=June 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}} Charles Eddy's brother, John Arthur Eddy, named the new city. He created a neologism adapted from the Spanish words for "large/fat cottonwood"{{cite book|last=Pearce|first=T.M.|author2=Ina Sizer Cassidy|others=Helen S. Pearce|title=The Place Names of New Mexico|publisher=The University of New Mexico Press|location=Albuquerque|year=1965|edition=third printing|page=4}} after a grove of stout cottonwoods he remembered from the Pecos River area.{{Rp|x–1}} However, the word "Almagordo" was not used in the Spanish language.McPhee, William N. and Harry R. Parsons. "Origins of the Name "Alamogordo"." New Mexico Historical Review 70, 4 (1995). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nmhr/vol70/iss4/5 When Alamogordo was laid out in 1898, the east–west streets were given numerical designations, while north–south streets were named after states. The present-day White Sands Boulevard was then called Pennsylvania Avenue.{{Rp|42, 44–45}}

With the creation of White Sands National Monument in 1934, tourism began.{{Rp|53}}

The Works Progress Administration, a government program created in 1935 in response to the Great Depression, was responsible for the construction of several government buildings in Alamogordo. These include the Otero County Administration Building at 1101 New York Avenue, a Pueblo style building originally constructed as the main U.S. Post Office in 1938. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The main entrance portico features frescoes by Peter Hurd, which were completed in 1942.{{Cite web |last=Townsend |first=Dave H. |title=A Thanksgiving Blessing Shining a Ray of Sunshine |url=https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/community/2017/11/24/thanksgiving-blessing-shining-ray-sunshine/887909001/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Alamogordo Daily News |language=en-US}}

In July 1941, the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range was established.{{Cite web |title=>White Sands NM: An Administrative History (Chapter 4) |url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/whsa/adhi/adhi4.htm |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=www.nps.gov}}

The Post Office moved out in 1961, and the building was used by a succession of Federal agencies and was known as the Federal Building.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} The last Federal agency to occupy it was the United States Forest Service who used it as the headquarters of the Lincoln National Forest until October 2008, when that agency moved to a newly constructed building.{{cite news|last=Garcia|first=Joe|date=September 4, 2007|title=The New Deal and the Forest Service headquarters|work=Alamogordo Daily News|page=9A|oclc=10674593}}{{cite news|title=USFS will show off green facility Thursday|work=Alamogordo Daily News|oclc=10674593 |date=November 30, 2008|pages=1A, 6A}} In February 2009, ownership of the building was transferred to Otero County government and many government offices were moved from the Courthouse to its new Administration Building .{{cite news|last=London|first=Laura|date=January 15, 2008|title=County gets Forest Service building|work=Alamogordo Daily News|pages=1A, 7A|oclc=10674593}}{{cite web|title=Meeting Minutes, Otero County Commission Meeting of February 19, 2009 |url=http://co.otero.nm.us/commission/minutes/M021909.pdf |publisher=Otero County, New Mexico |pages=133–134 |date=March 18, 2009 |access-date=July 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081457/http://co.otero.nm.us/commission/minutes/M021909.pdf |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}

In 1983, Atari, Inc. buried more than 700,000 unsold Atari 2600 video game cartridges in Alamogordo's landfill.{{cite news|date=September 28, 1983|title=Atari Parts Are Dumped|page=D4|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/28/business/atari-parts-are-dumped.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515044525/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/28/business/atari-parts-are-dumped.html|archive-date=May 15, 2020|url-status=live}} Most notably, Atari discarded many copies of the unpopular E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. This event was often believed to be an urban legend, until it was confirmed by Atari and excavations at the landfill.{{cite web|url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/landfill-smithsonian-collections-et-extra-terrestrial-atari-2600-game|title=From landfill to Smithsonian collections: "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" Atari 2600 game|last=Robarge|first=Drew|date=December 15, 2014|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218111854/http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/landfill-smithsonian-collections-et-extra-terrestrial-atari-2600-game|archive-date=December 18, 2014|url-status=live}}

Alamogordo briefly made international news in late 2001 when Christ Community Church held a public book burning of books in the Harry Potter series, and several other series, on December 30.{{cite news |last=Matise |first=James |date =December 31, 2001 |title=Holy bonfire consumes amid protest |work=Alamogordo Daily News |page=1 |oclc=10674593}}{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1735623.stm|title='Satanic' Harry Potter books burnt|access-date=August 15, 2009|date=December 31, 2001|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite news |date=January 1, 2002 |title=Burning Books in New Mexico (photo, caption, cutline) |work=The New York Times |volume=151 |page=A19 |issn=0362-4331}}

As of 2010, Alamogordo had a total area of {{convert|19.3|sqmi|1}}, all land.{{cite web |title=ASCII text versions of Places |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2002 |work=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files |publisher=US Census Bureau |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=August 12, 2009}} The city is located on the western flank of the Sacramento Mountains and on the eastern edge of the Tularosa Basin. It lies within the Rio Grande rift{{cite web |title=NMBGMR Tour: Rio Grande Rift |url=http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/provinces/rio_grande_rift/home.html |publisher=New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology: New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=August 12, 2009}} and in the northernmost part of the Chihuahuan Desert.{{cite book |last=Jaeger |first=Edmund |author-link=Edmund Jaeger |title=The North American Deserts |url=https://archive.org/details/northamericandes00jaeg |url-access=registration |access-date=August 17, 2009|publisher=Stanford University Press |location=Stanford |year=1957 |isbn=978-0-8047-0498-4}}{{Rp|36}} Tectonic activity is low in the Tularosa Basin.{{cite book |last1=Bedinger |first1=M. S. |last2=Sargent |first2=K. A. |last3=Brady |first3=B. T. |title=Geologic and Hydrologic Characterization and Evaluation of the Basin and Range Province Relative to the Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste: Part III Geologic and Hydrologic Evaluation |url=http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/60586-AtOcFc/webviewable/60586.pdf |access-date=August 13, 2009 |series=U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey |volume=Circular 904-C |year=1985 |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |location=Washington |pages=5–7|doi=10.2172/60586 }} Plants native to the area are typical of the southern New Mexico foothills and include creosote bush, mesquite, saltbush, cottonwood, desert willow, and many species of cactus and yucca.{{cite book |last1=Morrow |first1=Baker H. |title=Best plants for New Mexico gardens and landscapes: keyed to cities and regions in New Mexico and adjacent areas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tv5AWfWA9VkC |access-date=August 13, 2009 |year=1985 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |location=Albuquerque |isbn=978-0-8263-1595-3 |page=121}}

The Tularosa Basin is an endorheic, or closed, basin; that is, no water flows out of it.{{cite web|title=Tularosa Basin |url=http://river.nmsu.edu/website/tularosa/ |work=NMWRRI GIS Laboratory |publisher=New Mexico State University: New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute |date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=August 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530160447/http://river.nmsu.edu/website/tularosa/ |archive-date=May 30, 2010}} Because of this and because of the geology of the region, water in the basin is hard: it has very high total dissolved solids concentrations, in excess of 3,000 mg/L.{{cite journal |last=Anning |first=David |date=March–April 2008 |title=Dissolved Solids in Basin-Fill Aquifers of the Southwest |journal=Southwest Hydrology |volume=7 |pages=18–19 |publisher=University of Arizona |issn=1552-8383 |url=http://www.swhydro.arizona.edu/archive/V7_N2/feature2.pdf |access-date=August 12, 2009}}

The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility, a Bureau of Reclamation laboratory doing research and development on desalination of brackish water, is located in Alamogordo.{{cite web|title=Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility |url=http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/water/research/tularosa.html |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Reclamation |date=August 4, 2009 |access-date=August 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513110353/http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/water/research/tularosa.html |archive-date=May 13, 2009}} The gypsum crystals of White Sands National Park are formed in Lake Lucero. Water drains from the mountains carrying dissolved gypsum and collects in Lake Lucero. After the water dries, the winds pick up the gypsum crystals and distribute them over the basin.{{Rp|37}}

Alamogordo has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), bordering a desert climate (BWk), with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is low and usually confined to the monsoon from July to September, when half a typical year's rainfall of {{convert|10.63|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} will occur – although December 1991 did see {{convert|5.45|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}. The wettest calendar year has been 1941 with {{convert|21.87|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} and the driest 1952 with {{convert|4.85|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}, while the wettest month on record has been September 1941 when {{convert|6.94|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} fell. September 1941 also saw the largest daily rainfall at Alamogordo with {{convert|2.60|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} falling on the 22nd of that month.

Temperatures outside of monsoonal storms are very hot during the summer: 89.1 days exceed {{convert|90|F|C|1}} and temperatures as high as {{convert|110|F|C|1}} occurred on June 22, 1981, and July 8, 1951. During the winter, days are very mild and sunny, but nights are cold, with {{convert|32|F|C}} reached on 55.1 mornings during an average winter, although only ten mornings have ever fallen to or below {{convert|0|F|C|1}},National Weather Service El Paso; [https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=epz NOW Data] with the coldest temperature recorded at Alamogordo being {{convert|-13|F|C|1}} during a major cold wave on February 3, 2011. Snow is very rare, with a mean of no more than {{convert|4.1|in|cm|abbr=on}} and a median very close to zero. The most snowfall in one month was {{convert|10.0|in|cm|abbr=on}} in December 1960.

{{Weather box |width = 75%

|location = Alamogordo, New Mexico, elevation {{convert|4,330|ft|m}} (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present)

|single line = Y

|collapsed = Yes

| Jan record high F = 76

| Feb record high F = 82

| Mar record high F = 90

| Apr record high F = 97

| May record high F = 104

| Jun record high F = 110

| Jul record high F = 110

| Aug record high F = 108

| Sep record high F = 102

| Oct record high F = 96

| Nov record high F = 88

| Dec record high F = 78

| year record high F = 110

| Jan avg record high F = 68.1

| Feb avg record high F = 73.3

| Mar avg record high F = 81.3

| Apr avg record high F = 87.2

| May avg record high F = 96.2

| Jun avg record high F = 103.0

| Jul avg record high F = 102.2

| Aug avg record high F = 97.6

| Sep avg record high F = 94.6

| Oct avg record high F = 87.7

| Nov avg record high F = 76.9

| Dec avg record high F = 68.7

| year avg record high F = 104.3

| Jan high F = 54.8

| Feb high F = 60.1

| Mar high F = 67.6

| Apr high F = 75.8

| May high F = 84.8

| Jun high F = 94.0

| Jul high F = 92.6

| Aug high F = 91.1

| Sep high F = 85.5

| Oct high F = 75.4

| Nov high F = 63.6

| Dec high F = 54.1

|year high F = 75.0

|Jan mean F = 44.0

|Feb mean F = 48.7

|Mar mean F = 55.2

|Apr mean F = 63.1

|May mean F = 71.7

|Jun mean F = 81.1

|Jul mean F = 81.2

|Aug mean F = 79.4

|Sep mean F = 74.1

|Oct mean F = 63.3

|Nov mean F = 52.1

|Dec mean F = 43.3

|year mean F =

| Jan low F = 33.2

| Feb low F = 37.3

| Mar low F = 42.9

| Apr low F = 50.5

| May low F = 58.6

| Jun low F = 68.1

| Jul low F = 69.8

| Aug low F = 67.8

| Sep low F = 62.6

| Oct low F = 51.3

| Nov low F = 40.6

| Dec low F = 32.6

|year low F = 51.3

| Jan avg record low F = 19.3

| Feb avg record low F = 21.7

| Mar avg record low F = 26.4

| Apr avg record low F = 33.9

| May avg record low F = 42.7

| Jun avg record low F = 55.1

| Jul avg record low F = 61.2

| Aug avg record low F = 59.5

| Sep avg record low F = 50.4

| Oct avg record low F = 34.3

| Nov avg record low F = 23.2

| Dec avg record low F = 17.2

| year avg record low F = 14.9

| Jan record low F = -4

| Feb record low F = -13

| Mar record low F = 10

| Apr record low F = 20

| May record low F = 32

| Jun record low F = 41

| Jul record low F = 49

| Aug record low F = 48

| Sep record low F = 33

| Oct record low F = 19

| Nov record low F = 0

| Dec record low F = -1

|year record low F=

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.68

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.59

| Mar precipitation inch = 0.33

| Apr precipitation inch = 0.27

| May precipitation inch = 0.46

| Jun precipitation inch = 0.56

| Jul precipitation inch = 1.62

| Aug precipitation inch = 1.96

| Sep precipitation inch = 1.49

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.01

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.56

| Dec precipitation inch = 1.10

|year precipitation inch = 10.63

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation days = 3.8

| Feb precipitation days = 4.3

| Mar precipitation days = 3.2

| Apr precipitation days = 2.3

| May precipitation days = 3.2

| Jun precipitation days = 3.7

| Jul precipitation days = 9.3

| Aug precipitation days = 9.2

| Sep precipitation days = 5.4

| Oct precipitation days = 5.1

| Nov precipitation days = 2.8

| Dec precipitation days = 3.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch

| Jan snow inch = 1.0

| Feb snow inch = 0.1

| Mar snow inch = 0.2

| Apr snow inch = 0.0

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.1

| Nov snow inch = 0.1

| Dec snow inch = 0.9

|year snow inch=2.4

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.4

|Feb snow days = 0.1

|Mar snow days = 0.1

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 0.1

|Dec snow days = 0.5

|year snow days =

| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=epz |title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = August 10, 2022}}

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00290199&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Alamogordo, NM

|access-date = February 17, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1920= 2363

|1930= 3096

|1940= 3950

|1950= 6783

|1960= 21723

|1970= 23035

|1980= 24024

|1990= 27596

|2000= 35582

|2010= 30403

|2020= 31384

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|df=mdy}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:35&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}

}}

As of the census of 2020, there were 31,384 people. During the 2000 census, there were 13,704 households, and 9,728 families residing in the city. There were 15,920 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 70.4% White; 5.6% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 12.1% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.0% of the population.{{cite journal |title=Profiles of General Demographic Characteristics, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, New Mexico |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |date=May 2001 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/dp1/2kh35.pdf |access-date=July 28, 2008}}{{Rp|38}}

There were 13,704 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.{{Rp|38}}

In the city the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.{{Rp|39}}

In 1999, the median income for a household in the city was $30,928, and the median income for a family was $35,673. Males had a median income of $28,163 versus $18,860 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,662. About 13.2% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=Fact sheet, DP-3 Profile of Economic Characteristics 2000, Alamogordo city, New Mexico|access-date=July 28, 2008|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

Alamogordo's and Otero County's July 1, 2008, population were estimated at 35,757 and 62,776 respectively by the United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2008-04-35.csv|title=Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in New Mexico, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 (SUB-EST2008-04-35)|access-date=July 31, 2009|date=July 1, 2009|publisher=US Census Bureau, Population Division|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707195944/http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2008-04-35.csv|archive-date=July 7, 2009|url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

File:Deutsche Schule Alamogordo (German School).jpg, a school for children of German Air Force service members and employees at the German Air Force Flying Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base]]

Previously Alamogordo had a German community due to the presence of the German Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base; in 1992 that air force made Holloman its main pilot training center in the United States.{{cite web|last=Devine|first=Jacqueline|url=https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/holloman/2015/08/12/german-air-force-impact-holloman/32446247/|title=German Air Force impact on Holloman|newspaper=Alamogordo Daily News|date=2015-08-12|access-date=2021-07-29}} Holloman was chosen due to its weather conditions.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/11/us/a-nation-at-war-a-military-town-war-strains-germans-at-american-base.html|title=A NATION AT WAR: A MILITARY TOWN; War Strains Germans at American Base|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2003-04-11}} There was a subdivision called "Little Germany" with houses that had German-style electrical outlets. The Deutsche Schule Alamogordo educated German children, as did the local schools. Additionally area supermarkets had German cuisine.{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Chris|title=Little Germany Is Home Away From Home|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|place=Albuquerque, New Mexico|date=1997-08-10|page=A12}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82380342/for-alamogordo-nm/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com.

By 1999, there were about 1,110 German dependents and 900 German military personnel in Alamogordo.{{cite news|last=Conley|first=Jim|title=Military trainees valuable to communities: German pilots, families adopt Southwest as home|newspaper=El Paso Times|date=1996-03-31|pages=1A, 2A}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82381758/for-el-paso-tx-and-alamogordo-nm/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82381978/for-alamogordo-nm-and-el-paso-tx/ of second page] at Newspapers.com. By 2003 there were about 2,000 Germans in Alamogordo. That year there were tensions between Americans and Germans since Germany chose not to join the U.S. in the Iraq War.

In 2019, the German military withdrew from the base.{{cite web|last=Brunt|first=Charles D.|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/757845/german-air-force-leaving-holloman-afb.html|title=German Air Force leaving Holloman|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|date=2016-04-15|access-date=2021-07-28}}

Until the German Air Force left, Oktoberfest was celebrated annually in late September, hosted by the German Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base. The public was invited, and shuttle buses ran between Alamogordo and the base.

{{cite news |first=Nina |last=Straeter |title=Oktoberfest coming |work=Alamogordo Daily News|oclc=10674593 |date=September 23, 2008 }}

Alamogordo is the economic center of Otero County,

{{cite web

|url=http://www.alamogordo.com/community.htm

|title=Community Profile

|access-date=July 19, 2009

|publisher=Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce

|quote=A national survey rated Alamogordo as one of the 50 healthiest places to live in the U.S.

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415205250/http://www.alamogordo.com/community.htm

|archive-date=April 15, 2009

}}

with nearly half the Otero County population living within the city limits. Alamogordo today has very little manufacturing and has a primarily service and retail economy, driven by tourism, a large nearby military installation and a concentration of military retirees.{{cite web |title=Alamogordo looks to diversity for economic success |work=New Mexico Business Weekly |author=Tom O'Connell |date=September 28, 2007

|access-date=August 14, 2009 |url=http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2007/10/01/story3.html}}{{cite web |title=Holloman Air Force Base |work=My Base Guide |access-date=August 14, 2009|url=http://www.mybaseguide.com/air-force/holloman/local.aspx}} In 2006 the per capita income in Otero County was $22,377 versus per capita income in New Mexico of $29,346.{{cite web |url=http://bber.unm.edu/econ/co-pci.htm |title=New Mexico Per Capita Personal Income by County |access-date=August 17, 2009 |publisher=University of New Mexico, Bureau of Business and Economic Research |date=April 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124012151/http://bber.unm.edu/econ/co-pci.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2010}}

File:Alamogordo, New Mexico.jpg

File:Alamogordo New Mexico Mesa Village.jpg

Alamogordo was founded as a company town to support the building of the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad,{{cite book|last=Townsend|first=David|author2=Clif McDonald|title=Centennial: Where the Old West Meets the New Frontier|orig-year=1999|publisher=Alamogordo/Otero County Centennial Celebration|location=Alamogordo, NM|isbn=978-1-887045-05-6|oclc=41400788|date=July 1999}}{{Rp|2}} a portion of the transcontinental railway that was being constructed in the late 19th century. Initially its main industry was timbering for railroad ties.{{Rp|1}} The railroad founders were also eager to found a major town that would persist after the railroad was completed; they formed the Alamogordo Improvement Company to develop the area,{{Rp|5}} making Alamogordo an early example of a planned community. The Alamogordo Improvement Company owned all the land, platted the streets, built the first houses and commercial buildings, donated land for a college, and placed a restrictive covenant on each deed prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, or sale of intoxicating liquor.{{Rp|1,9,13,44}}

Tourism became an important part of the local economy from the creation of White Sands National Monument in 1934.{{Rp|53}} Construction began on the Alamogordo Army Air Field (the present-day Holloman Air Force Base) in 1942, and the Federal government has been a strong presence in Alamogordo ever since.{{Rp|39,53}} Education has also been an important part of the local economy. In addition to the local school system, Alamogordo is home to the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, founded in 1903, and a branch of New Mexico State University founded in 1958.{{Rp|44,58}} The largest non-government employer in the city is the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center with 650 employees in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.gcrmc.org/gc.nsf/View/History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020728094559/http://www.gcrmc.org/gc.nsf/View/History|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2002|title=History|date=July 28, 2002}}

Holloman Air Force Base, located approximately {{convert|3|mi}} west of the city limits, is the largest employer of Alamogordo residents, and has a major effect on the local economy. According to some estimates, Holloman accounts for half of the Alamogordo economy.{{cite news | last=Wagoner | first=Alice Louise |date=May 14, 2005 |title=Committee of 50's work pays off |work= Alamogordo Daily News |page=1 |oclc=10674593}}{{cite news |last=Becker |first=Michael |date=October 1, 2006 |title=No slowdown for phaseout |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}} According to the 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office, as of January 2008 Holloman directly employs 6,111 personnel with a gross payroll of $266 million. It indirectly creates another 2,047 jobs with a payroll of $77 million. The estimated amount spent in the community, including payroll, construction projects, supplies, services, health care, and education, is $482 million.{{cite journal|title=Economic Impact Statement 2007 |publisher=Holloman Air Force Base, 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs |year=2008 |url=http://www.holloman.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080326-057.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152556/http://www.holloman.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080326-057.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}

An estimated 6,700 military retirees live in the area. Counting both USAF and German Air Force personnel there are 1,383 active military and 1,641 military dependents living on base and 2,765 active military and 2,942 military dependents living off base. After 27 years of training at Holloman, the German Air Force left in 2019. They relocated their pilot training to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/community/2019/03/15/german-air-force-changes-command-holloman/3173663002/|title=German Air Force changes command at Holloman|website=Alamogordo Daily News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-29}}

Future Combat Systems is a wide-ranging modernization project of the US Army. Much of the work will be done at Fort Bliss, with some at White Sands Missile Range and some at Holloman Air Force Base. Alamogordo is expected to get some economic benefit due to its proximity to these three bases.{{Cite news |date=August 7, 2007 |title=State campaign to lure defense jobs |page=1A |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}}

Otero County Economic Development Council is a nonprofit organization founded in 1984. Its focus has generally been on job creation and recruiting and expanding businesses in Otero County, including helping them satisfy business regulations in New Mexico and lining up funding.{{cite news |last=Churchman |first=Tamara |date=July 20, 1992 |title=OCEDC creates structure for economic development |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}}{{cite news |last=Border |first=Heather |date =September 19, 1993 |title=Otero County's future: What shape will it take? |page=1B |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}} Its role expanded in 2000, when Alamogordo passed an Economic Development Gross Receipts Tax. OCEDC continues to work to attract businesses, but now it also helps develop the incentive packages that will be paid by the new tax, and a portion of the tax receipts go to fund OCEDC's operating expenses.{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Gaylon |date=March 28, 2001 |title=City Commission approves OCEDC fund |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}} Formal economic development plans have been adopted by Alamogordo{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Dave |date=July 11, 1996 |title=City may be able to offer incentives |page=8A |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}} and by Otero County.{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Gaylon |date=August 31, 2000 |title=County Commission approved economic development plan |page=5B |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}}

OCEDC has recruited several new employers by using financial incentives. A 1-800-Flowers call center opened in November 2001 and received $1.25 million in city rent abatements, a 50% reduction in property taxes from Otero County, and $940,000 in plant training funds from the State of New Mexico.{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Gaylon |date=September 20, 2001 |title=Flowers.com clears hurdles to opening |page=1 |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593}}

{{cite news | last = Shinabery | first = Michael | date = 2001-06-02 | title = Commission OKs Flowers tax abatement | page = 2 | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

A Sunbaked Biscuits cookie factory opened in 2006 and received $800,000 in job-training incentives from the state.

{{cite news | last = Bear | first = John | date =September 28, 2006 | title = Homans makes follow-up visit | pages = 1A, 2A | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

When the company went out of business in 2007, Marietta Baking took over the cookie factory and received interest-free loans, job-training incentives, and partial forgiveness of indebtedness for job creation.

{{cite news | last = Becker | first = Michael | date =August 18, 2007 | title = Marietta working to take over Sunbaked | pages = 1A, 2A | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

{{cite news | last = Anderson | first = Karl | date =November 30, 2007 | title = Marietta begins production | pages = 1A, 6A | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

A branch office of PreCheck Inc., a company performing background checks of health-care workers, opened in 2006. PreCheck received $2.4 million in high-wage job creation tax credits, $1.5 million in job-training subsidies, $1.5 million in capital outlay money for roads and infrastructure, a $625,000 allocation from City of Alamogordo for upgrading sewer lines in the area, and 20.8 acres of land from Heritage Group, a developer.

{{cite news | last = Hunt | first = Laura | date =February 14, 2006 | title = New business checks in | pages = 1A, 6A | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

The Otero County Film Office,

{{cite web

|url= http://www.filmotero.com

|title= Film Otero

|access-date=May 25, 2008

|publisher= Otero County Film Office

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080604004014/http://www.filmotero.com/| archive-date= June 4, 2008 | url-status= live}}

an office of Otero County Economic Development Council, promotes film-making in Otero County by publicizing potential locations in the county and New Mexico's film financial incentive programs

{{cite web

|title=New Mexico's Film Incentives

|url=http://www.nmfilm.com/filming/incentives/

|publisher=New Mexico Film Office

|access-date=August 1, 2009

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509163914/http://www.nmfilm.com/filming/incentives/

|archive-date=May 9, 2008

|df=mdy

}}

and by recruiting extras for film productions. It sponsors the Desert Light Film Competition for middle and high school students to encourage learning about the film industry.

{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Monica M. | date =October 20, 2005 | title = Young filmmakers bring light to film festival | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

The 2007 film Transformers spent $5.5 million in New Mexico and $1 million in Alamogordo.

{{cite news | last = Stevens | first = Jeff | date =November 24, 2006 | title = Transformers movie spent $1 mil. in Alamogordo | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

File:Alamogordo Flickinger Center for Performing Arts.jpg

There are two amateur theatrical groups in Alamogordo. Alamogordo Music Theatre

{{cite web| url= http://www.zianet.com/amt/| title= Alamogordo Music Theatre| access-date= May 21, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080517135507/http://www.zianet.com/amt//| archive-date= May 17, 2008| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}

produces two musical productions annually at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts. The NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill produces an annual spring performance for young audiences at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center on the New Mexico State University at Alamogordo campus,

{{cite journal |first=Connie |last=Breding |title=Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Rohovec |journal=NMSU-A Today |publisher=New Mexico State University at Alamogordo |location=Alamogordo, New Mexico |oclc=51523032 |pages=6–7 |date=April 2007 |volume=9 |issue=4 }}

{{cite news

|first=Bev

|last=Eckman-Onyskow

|title='Big Dogs' earns award

|url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13257076

|access-date=September 3, 2009

|work=Alamogordo Daily News

|oclc=10674593

|pages=1A, 2A

|date=September 3, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926030711/http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13257076

|archive-date=September 26, 2009

|url-status=dead

|df=mdy

}}

and an annual Fall performance for general audiences.

{{cite news |title='The Nerd' enters final weekend |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593 |date=November 13, 2008 }}

{{cite news

|title=Call for artists (The Diary of Anne Frank)

|url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13255114

|access-date=September 4, 2009

|work=Alamogordo Daily News – ¡Vámonos! insert

|oclc=10674593

|page=9

|date=September 4, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707103304/http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13255114

|archive-date=July 7, 2011

|quote=A Theatre on the Hill will hold auditions for The Diary of Anne Frank on Saturday, September 12, at 1 pm, and on Sunday, September 13, at 2 pm at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center located on the campus of New Mexico State University in Alamogordo.

|url-status=dead

|df=mdy

}}

The Earth Day Fair is held annually at Alameda Park Zoo. It features a butterfly release, a science fair, activities for children, and information booths from local health agencies and nonprofits.

{{cite journal

| last = Österreich

| first = Elva

| date =April 23, 2008

| title = Organizers tout biggest Earth Day Fair yet

| journal = Alamogordo Daily News

| oclc = 10674593

}}

Otero County Fair is held annually at the County Fairgrounds. It features a rodeo, animal judging, food and game booths, and carnival rides. Nonprofit and government agencies set up information booths in the exhibit hall.

{{cite journal

| last = London

| first = Laura

| date =August 16, 2007

| title = County fair gets under way

| journal = Alamogordo Daily News

| oclc = 10674593

}}

The Cottonwood Arts and Crafts Festival is put on each Labor Day Weekend in Alameda Park by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce. It is primarily a showplace for vendors of handmade items, and also features music, entertainment, and food.

{{cite web| url= http://www.alamogordo.com/cottonwood.htm| title= Cottonwood Arts and Crafts Festival| access-date= July 30, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090616165046/http://www.alamogordo.com/cottonwood.htm| archive-date= June 16, 2009| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}

{{cite journal

| last = Anderson

| first = Karl

| date =September 2, 2007

| title = Cottonwood Festival breaks attendance record

| journal = Alamogordo Daily News

| oclc = 10674593

}}

White Sands Balloon Invitational is held annually. Hot air balloons launch from the Riner-Steinhoff Soccerplex and from White Sands National Park and float over the Tularosa Basin.

{{cite journal

| last = Anderson

| first = Karl

| date =September 16, 2007

| title = Pilots' event draws 400

| journal = Alamogordo Daily News

| oclc = 10674593

}}

File:World's Largest Pistachio.jpg

File:Grave of Ham the Astrochimp.jpg, a chimpanzee and the first great ape in space, at the New Mexico Museum of Space History]]

File:New Mexico Museum of Space History.jpg

New Mexico Museum of Space History is a state museum with the International Space Hall of Fame.

{{cite web |title=About the Museum |url=http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/content.php?id=16 |publisher=State of New Mexico, Department of Cultural Affairs |access-date=August 13, 2009}}

Flickinger Center for Performing Arts is a 590-seat theater created in 1988 from a re-purposed movie theater. It hosts concerts and live theatrical performances by touring groups, and is the venue for the local amateur group Alamogordo Music Theater.

{{cite journal

| last = Wells

| first = Kandra

| date =April 1, 2008

| title = Flick continues rebuilding process

| journal = Alamogordo Daily News

| oclc = 10674593

}}

{{cite web

|url= http://www.flickingercenter.com/

|title= Flickinger Center for Performing Arts

|access-date=May 22, 2008

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080517144922/http://www.flickingercenter.com/| archive-date= May 17, 2008 | url-status= live}}

{{cite news

|first=Bev

|last=Eckman-Onyskow

|title=Flickinger reaches half of fund-raising goal; first-year drive raises $125,000

|url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13001677

|access-date=August 13, 2009

|work=Alamogordo Daily News

|oclc=10674593

|pages=1A, 7A

|date=August 6, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707103237/http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13001677

|archive-date=July 7, 2011

|url-status=dead

|df=mdy

}}

Alamogordo Museum of History collects artifacts related to the history of Alamogordo and the Tularosa Basin. It is a private museum, operated by the Tularosa Basin Historical Society.

{{cite web

|url= http://www.alamogordomuseum.org/

|title= Tularosa Basin Historical Society

|access-date=July 30, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105090001/http://www.alamogordomuseum.org/

|archive-date=January 5, 2008

}}

Among notable items in the collection is a 47-star US Flag; New Mexico was the 47th state admitted to the Union, and US flags were made with 47 stars only for one month, until Arizona was admitted.

{{cite web

|url= http://www.alamogordomuseum.org/47star.html

|title= Tularosa Basin Historical Society – Our 47 Star Flag

|access-date=July 30, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813010649/http://www.alamogordomuseum.org/47star.html

|archive-date=August 13, 2007}}

The Museum shop has a large collection of local history books. The Historical Society also publishes its own series of monographs on local history, Pioneer.

{{cite journal|title=none

|journal = Pioneer

|place = Alamogordo, NM

|publisher = Tularosa Basin Historical Society

|oclc = 49596229}}

American Armed Forces Museum is a museum on U.S. Route 82 near Florida Avenue that opened in 2011. It collects and displays all kinds of military memorabilia from all wars and military engagements.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_18493862

|title=Alamogordo Daily News "New Museum open"

|access-date=August 2, 2011

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719220446/http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_18493862

|archive-date=July 19, 2011

}}

The Shroud Exhibit And Museum, located in White Sands Mall, showcases a full-sized back-lit photographic transparency of the Shroud of Turin, a religious relic believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. They also feature a working VP8 Image Analyzer, the only one in the world where one can walk in and interact with this old analog computer. This town was founded the same year (1898) that Secundo Pia took the first photograph of the Shroud which started the modern investigation into the Shroud. This is highlighted in the museum. In 1977 in Albuquerque, they held the conference that resulted in the 1978 study of the Shroud with more scientists from New Mexico than any other state. The displayed photograph was created from the 1978 photographs made by Barrie M. Schwortz as part of the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP). The displays include historical background materials, scientific information, kiosks with a variety of information, videos available for viewing and an exhibit of electronic image analysis of the shroud, among other interesting artifacts.

{{cite web

|url= http://ShroudNM.com/

|title= Shroud Exhibit And Museum (SEAM)

|access-date=August 21, 2009

}}

{{cite web|first=J. David |last=McNamara |title=Shroud of Turin Exhibit Opens in Alamogordo's White Sands Mall |url=http://www.dioceseoflascruces.org/article_page.php?num=71 |work=Agua Viva |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces |location=Las Cruces, New Mexico |date=April 2009 |access-date=August 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716021832/http://www.dioceseoflascruces.org/article_page.php?num=71 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}

{{cite web |title=Shroud of Turin Lifesize Photographs |url=http://shroud.com/obtain.htm#lifesize |publisher=Barrie M. Schwortz |access-date=August 22, 2009}}

The Alameda Park Zoo, the oldest zoo in the southwestern U.S., is located in the city. Several Union-Apache battles were fought near Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.{{cite web |url=http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Government/coahistory.htm |title=History of Alamogordo |publisher=Ci.alamogordo.nm.us |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=September 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928111911/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Government/coahistory.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

The Toy Train Depot, New Mexico's first railroad museum and home of America's Park Ride Train Museum.

A sculpture called "The World's Largest Pistachio" is at McGinn's PistachioLand along U.S. 54.{{cite web |title=World's Largest Pistachio|url=https://www.pistachioland.com/worlds-largest-pistachio/ |website=PistachioLand |access-date=28 January 2020}}

File:Gus Macker Alamogordo 2009.jpg

The Lady of the Mountain Run is held in December at the Griggs Sportsplex.{{cite news|last=Devine |first=Jacqueline |date=December 13, 2014 |title=Inaugural Run |url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/alamogordo-news/ci_27133460/inaugural-run |publisher=Alamogordo Daily News |access-date=April 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702061757/http://www.alamogordonews.com/alamogordo-news/ci_27133460/inaugural-run |archive-date=July 2, 2015 }} The race consists of a half marathon, 10K, 5K, or corporate cup relay, and raises money for the needs-based Lady of the Mountain Scholarship Fund at NMSU-Alamogordo.{{cite news|last=Devine |first=Jacqueline |title=Groups Give $5,000 In Scholarships |url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/alamogordo-news/ci_27843346/groups-give-5-000-scholarships |publisher=Alamogordo Daily News |date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=April 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712214138/http://www.alamogordonews.com/alamogordo-news/ci_27843346/groups-give-5-000-scholarships |archive-date=July 12, 2015 }} Fun run/walks are popular in Alamogordo, although most are one-shot affairs put on as part of some larger event. One recurring event is Walk Out West, a {{Convert|1.5|mi|km|adj=on}} walk held each October in Alameda Park Zoo. It incorporates a health fair, live music, and events for children.{{cite news | last1 = Tilman | first1 = Lori | last2 = Loney | first2 = Lee Ann | date =October 7, 2007 | title = It's Walk Out West time again | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593 }} An offshoot of this is Dance Otero, an informal approach to ballroom dancing as a form of physical exercise that meets throughout the year.{{cite news | last = Tilman | first = Lori | date =June 30, 2007 | title = Walk/Dance Otero programs for the community | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593 }} Both programs are run through Otero PATH, a local nonprofit that encourages preventive measures for good health.{{cite web| url= http://www.oteropath.com/| title= Otero PATH – Preventive Action Towards Health| publisher= Otero PATH| access-date= May 24, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080515163206/http://www.oteropath.com/| archive-date= May 15, 2008| url-status= usurped| df= mdy-all}}

There are a number of annual sports events. The Tommy Padilla Memorial Basketball Tournament{{cite web|url=http://www.tommypadilla.com/ |title=Tommy Padilla Memorial Basketball Tournament |publisher=Tommy Padilla Memorial Basketball Tournament |access-date=July 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207132935/http://www.tommypadilla.com/ |archive-date=February 7, 2011}} is an annual event held in March. It is an adult tournament that raises money for scholarships for Alamogordo High School students.{{cite news|last = Kaiser|first = Gidal|date =March 28, 2008|title = Padilla tournament starts today| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News|oclc=10674593}} The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is a national program that holds a tournament in Alamogordo each year in May. Prior to 2008 it was hosted by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, and since then by the City of Alamogordo.{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Kandra|date=January 24, 2008|title=Commissioners give nod to Armed Forces Day tourney|work=Alamogordo Daily News|oclc=10674593}} The city receives 72% of the entry fees and 5% of the gross proceeds taken in by vendors. The event is held annually at Washington Park in conjunction with Saturday in the Park and Armed Forces Day.{{cite news|first=Sondra |last=Escutia |title=Alamogordo celebrates Armed Forces day with Saturday in the Park |url=https://www.holloman.af.mil/News/story/id/123150422/ |publisher=United States Air Force, Holloman Air Force Base |date=May 21, 2009 |access-date=August 9, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152537/http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123150422 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}

In 2009 more than 233 teams participated in the tournament. Several golf tournaments are held each year at Desert Lakes Golf Course, including the Robert W. Hamilton Charity Golf Classic.{{cite news | date =June 26, 2007 | title = Tournament raises $10,800 | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593 }}

Alamogordo's sole professional sports team is the White Sands Pupfish, a baseball team that played at Jim Griggs Field from 2011 to 2019, in the independent Pecos League, but did not play in a 4 team, abridged 2020 season hosted in Houston due to pandemic concerns.

{{cite web |url= http://www.whitesandspupfish.com/ |title= White Sands Pupfish |publisher = White Sands Pupfish | access-date=August 9, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100919151813/http://www.whitesandspupfish.com/| archive-date= September 19, 2010 | url-status= live}}

File:Alameda park zoo entrance.jpg features southwestern animals.]]

Alamogordo has numerous small parks scattered through the city, and a few larger ones. Some notable parks include:

{{cite journal

|title=City of Alamogordo Parks

|publisher=City of Alamogordo

|date=July 5, 2007

|url=http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Image/COA/Parks+Map.pdf

|access-date=May 22, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530000540/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA%2BImage/COA/Parks%2BMap.pdf

|archive-date=May 30, 2008

|url-status=dead

|df=mdy-all

}}

• Alameda Park is a city park lying on the west side of White Sands Boulevard between Tenth Street and Indian Wells Road. Most of the park is shaded by cottonwood trees. At the south end of the park is Alameda Park Zoo and at the north end is The Toy Train Depot, a railroad and toy train museum.

{{cite web|title=Area Attractions |url=http://www.alamogordo.com/tourism.htm |date=April 18, 2009 |publisher=Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce |access-date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415173859/http://www.alamogordo.com/tourism.htm |archive-date=April 15, 2009 }}

• Washington Park is a city park in the center of town, bounded by Washington and Oregon Avenues and running from First Street to Indian Wells Road. City Hall and several other city buildings are located in the park. At the north end of the park is Kids Kingdom,

{{cite journal

|last = Hunt

|first = Laura

|date =October 4, 2005

|title = Kids Kingdom turns 10

|journal = Alamogordo Daily News

|oclc = 10674593

|pages = 1A}}

a children's play area with a giant jungle gym.

• There are public athletic fields at the Jim R. Griggs Sports Complex, located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Fairgrounds Road, and the Travis C. Hooser Ballfield Complex (also called Walker Field) located at the corner of U.S. Route 70 and Walker Road.
• The Alamogordo Family Recreation Center, at 1100 Oregon Avenue, is a city-owned facility offering a weight room, swimming pool (open seasonally), and basketball gym. There are outdoor tennis courts north of the building.{{cite web

|url= http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/familyrec.htm

|title= Family Recreation Center

|access-date= May 21, 2008

|publisher= City of Alamogordo

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080624223410/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/familyrec.htm

|archive-date= June 24, 2008

|url-status= dead

}}

• The Alamogordo Senior Center is a city facility for senior citizens that provides a social center and an exercise room and serves congregate meals and Meals on Wheels.{{cite web |title=Alamo Senior Center |url=http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/asc.htm |publisher=City of Alamogordo |access-date=August 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503085024/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/asc.htm |archive-date=May 3, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

File:Desert Lakes Golf Course Alamogordo club house.jpg

• Desert Lakes Golf Course is a city-owned golf course located at the south end of town on Hamilton Road at Desert Lakes Road. It is an 18-hole course. The clubhouse houses a restaurant and a pro shop. There is a PGA golf pro on duty at the course.

{{cite web

|url= http://www.desertlakesgolf.com/

|title= Desert Lakes Golf Course

| publisher = City of Alamogordo

|access-date=May 22, 2008

}}

Not inside the city but nearby are several national and state parks. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is about 10 miles south on U.S. Route 54, offers camping, hiking, and picnicking. White Sands National Park is located about {{Convert|15|mi|km}} southwest of Alamogordo along U.S. Route 70. The area is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area and comprises the southern part of a {{Convert|275|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. The Lincoln National Forest, whose headquarters are in Alamogordo, is a mountainous area that starts about {{Convert|10|mi|km}} northeast of Alamogordo and offers hiking, fishing, and camping.

{{cite web |title=Lincoln National Forest |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/ |publisher=USDA Forest Service |date=August 10, 2009 |access-date=August 16, 2009}}

The Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range, located about {{Convert|3|mi|km}} north of town at 19 Rock Cliff Road in La Luz, is a supervised range with rifle, pistol, and archery ranges. Several competitions are held at the range each month.{{cite web| url= http://co.otero.nm.us/MiscDept/shootrg.htm| title= Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range| publisher= County of Otero| access-date= May 22, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080627195321/http://co.otero.nm.us/MiscDept/shootrg.htm| archive-date= June 27, 2008| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}

File:Alamogordo City Hall.jpg

Alamogordo was incorporated in 1912.{{Rp|136}} It is a charter city (also called a home rule city

{{cite web

|last=Lang

|first=Diane

|title=Dillon's Rule...and the Birth of Home Rule

|publisher=New Mexico Municipal League

|date=December 1991

|url=http://nmml.org/files/2008/01/dillon.pdf

|access-date=May 24, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530000540/http://nmml.org/files/2008/01/dillon.pdf

|archive-date=May 30, 2008

|url-status=dead

|df=mdy

}}

), and the charter is included as Part I of the Code of Ordinances.

{{cite web

|url= http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10991&sid=31

|title= Code of Ordinances

|access-date=May 24, 2008

|publisher= City of Alamogordo (published on Web by Municode.com)

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080412011015/http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10991&sid=31| archive-date= April 12, 2008 | url-status= live}}

It has a Council-manager government form of government (called Commission/Manager in New Mexico).{{Rp|Article II}} There are seven city commissioners, each elected from a district within the city, on staggered 4-year terms.{{Rp|Article VII}} The city manager is considered the chief executive officer of the city and is tasked to enforce and implement the City Council's directives and policy.{{cite web|url=http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Government/city_manager.htm |title=City Manager |publisher=Ci.alamogordo.nm.us |date=September 14, 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2011}} The mayor is a member of the City Council. As of 2018, Richard Boss holds the position of mayor.{{cite web|url=https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/community/2018/03/07/alamogordo-mayor-boss-elected-2nd-term/404783002/ |title=Alamogordo Mayor Boss elected to 2nd term |publisher=Ci.alamogordo.nm.us |date=March 7, 2018 |access-date=September 26, 2018}}

Alamogordo's fiscal year ends on June 30 each year; thus Fiscal Year 2008 runs from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. The FY 2008 budget projects income of $61,454,402

{{cite book

|title= City of Alamogordo Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Budget

|publisher= City of Alamogordo

|location= Alamogordo, NM

}}

{{Rp|7}}

and expenditures of $73,655,777.{{Rp|5}} Sources of City government income and their percentages of the whole were:{{Rp|7}} gross receipts tax (31%), miscellaneous (23%), grants (22%), user fees (19%), and property tax (5%).

New Mexico State University Alamogordo is a two-year community college established in 1958. As of 2016, it has approximately 1,800 students.{{cite web |title=Our History |url=http://nmsua.edu/admissions/our-history/ |year=2016 |access-date=April 6, 2017 |publisher=New Mexico State University Alamogordo}} There are two high schools (including the comprehensive Alamogordo High School), three middle schools, and 11 elementary schools in the Alamogordo Public School District. Prior to 2008 there were two private schools in Alamogordo: Legacy Christian Academy and Father James B. Hay Catholic School (the latter of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces). A third private school, Imago Dei Academy, opened in August 2008 and provides a classical Christian education.

{{cite news

| first = Michelle

| last = Scharmack

| title = New school to open in August

| work = Alamogordo Daily News

| oclc = 10674593

| pages = 1A, 6A

| date =July 26, 2008

}}

The New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a state school located in Alamogordo.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.alamogordo.com/education.htm

|title=Alamogordo Area Schools

|access-date=July 19, 2009

|publisher=Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520044609/http://www.alamogordo.com/education.htm

|archive-date=May 20, 2009

}}

The German government formerly operated the Deutsche Schule Alamogordo (German School) for children of German Air Force personnel stationed at the German tactical training center at Holloman Air Force Base until the 2019 withdrawal of German forces.{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Simon|url=https://www.krwg.org/post/german-school-alamogordo-gives-window-countrys-approach-vocational-learning|title=German School In Alamogordo Gives Window Into Country's Approach To Vocational Learning|publisher=KRWG|date=2016-05-12|access-date=2021-07-28}} Following this, the aforementioned Imago Dei Academy purchased the building.{{Cite web|title=Our Story|url=https://www.imagodei.academy/our-story/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=IMAGO DEI ACADEMY|language=en-US}}

Alamogordo Public Library serves Alamogordo and Otero County.{{cite web |url= http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/library/coaplgeneralinfo.htm |title= Library General Information |access-date= August 13, 2009 |publisher= City of Alamogordo |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080408231013/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/library/coaplgeneralinfo.htm |archive-date= April 8, 2008 |url-status= dead }} The library at New Mexico State University Alamogordo is also open to the public.

{{cite web|title=Community Borrower Policy |url=http://nmsua.edu/library/policies/community-borrowers/ |publisher=New Mexico State University at Alamogordo |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205035217/http://nmsua.edu/library/policies/community-borrowers/ |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}

The main newspaper in Alamogordo is Alamogordo Daily News (ADN), owned by MediaNews Group. ADN is published six days a week; on Monday, when it does not appear, subscribers receive the El Paso Times.

{{cite web|title=Alamogordo Daily News: Contact Us |url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/contactus |publisher=Alamogordo Daily News |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725154900/http://www.alamogordonews.com/contactus |archive-date=July 25, 2009 }}

ADN also publishes Hollogram, a free weekly newspaper distributed at the nearby Holloman Air Force Base and covering happenings on base.

{{cite news |title=Hollogram nameplate, masthead |work=The Hollogram |publisher=Alamogordo Daily News |location=Alamogordo, New Mexico |pages=1, 2 |date=August 13, 2009 }}

There was no alternative newspapers published in Alamogordo but The Ink, a free Las Cruces monthly newspaper devoted to the arts, is distributed in the city. There is now however a free online paper operated as citizen journalism produced by 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News{{Cite web |title=2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News |url=https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/ |website=2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news |language=en}}

{{cite news |title=The Ink nameplate, masthead |work=The Ink |publisher=Alamogordo Daily News |location=Alamogordo, New Mexico |pages=1, 2 |date=August 2009 }}

The city government publishes City Profile, a monthly print newsletter that is mailed to all households in the city and is published electronically on the city web site,

{{cite web

|url=http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Forms___Documents/The_City_Profile_Newsletter.htm

|title=The City Profile Newsletter

|access-date=July 30, 2009

|publisher=City of Alamogordo

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805022256/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Forms___Documents/The_City_Profile_Newsletter.htm

|archive-date=August 5, 2009

}}

and Communiqué, a blog with city news.

{{cite web

|url= http://cityofalamo.blogspot.com/

|title= Communiqué

|access-date=August 1, 2009

|publisher= City of Alamogordo

}}

One television station, KVBA-LD, broadcasts from Alamogordo. It has a religious format, and a weekly local news magazine broadcast Thursday through Saturday.

{{cite web |title=Welcome to KVBA Vision Broadcasting |url=http://www.kvbatv.org/ |date=May 31, 2009 |publisher=KVBA Visions Broadcasting Network |access-date=August 13, 2009}}

{{cite web|title=The Local 19: Alamogordo's News |url=http://www.kvbatv.org/The_Local_19.htm |date=May 31, 2009 |publisher=KVBA Visions Broadcasting Network |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906183613/http://www.kvbatv.org/The_Local_19.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2009 }}

Cable television service is provided by Baja Broadband.

{{cite web|title=Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce: Relocation |url=http://www.alamogordo.com/relocation.htm |date=May 29, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501034714/http://www.alamogordo.com/relocation.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2009 }}

There are two commercial radio broadcast companies, WP Broadcasting and Burt Broadcasting; each operates several stations in several formats.

{{cite web |title=WP Broadcasting |url=http://www.snmradio.com/ |date=March 19, 2009 |publisher=WP Broadcasting |access-date=August 13, 2009}}

{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Shinabery |title=New station's format is kinda cool |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593 |page=5A |date=May 7, 2006 |quote=(about Burt Broadcasting and KQEL-FM) }}

{{cite web|title=Airmen invade airwaves |url=https://www.holloman.af.mil/News/story/id/123100435/ |date=May 28, 2008 |publisher=United States Air Force, Holloman Air Force Base |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152642/http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123100435 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}

There are two "listener-supported" radio stations that do not carry advertising but depend on sponsorships and donations. KLAG has a gospel music radio format and some live coverage of local events, including many remote broadcasts from civic events.

{{cite news |first=Jennifer L. |last=Meadows |title=New radio station goes live for 9-11 tribute |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593 |page=10A |date=September 11, 2002 |quote=(about KUPR-FM) }}

KALH-LP is a low-power FM station that carries a variety radio format, network news on the hour, and local news on some hours.

{{cite web |title=KALH-FM Variety 95.1 |url=http://www.kalh.webs.com/ |publisher=KALH Radio |access-date=August 13, 2009}}

Neither station is an NPR affiliate. The local NPR outlet is KRWG-FM in Las Cruces, which reaches Alamogordo through a local relay transmitter.

{{cite web |title=About KRWG |url=http://www.krwg.org/aboutus.html |date=August 11, 2009 |publisher=New Mexico State University |access-date=August 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805180658/http://www.krwg.org/aboutus.html |archive-date=August 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Several major motion pictures were filmed in or near Alamogordo. The 2007 film Transformers was shot primarily at White Sands Missile Range, with additional filming at Holloman Air Force Base, both in the Alamogordo area.

{{cite news|title=The Making Of The Transformers Movie|work=Entertainment News International|date=June 15, 2007|url=http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=11213|access-date=August 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917001231/http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=11213|archive-date=September 17, 2007|df=mdy-all}}

Its 2009 sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also prominently featured these two military bases.

{{cite news|first=Sondra |last=Escutia |title=Hollywood 'transforms' Holloman yet again |date=June 26, 2009 |publisher=United States Air Force, Holloman Air Force Base |url=https://www.holloman.af.mil/News/story/id/123156381/ |access-date=August 11, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152613/http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123156381 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}

The 2009 film Year One was shot partly at White Sands National Monument, near Alamogordo.

{{cite news |first=Karl |last=Anderson |title=Local faces make mark on comedy |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593 |date=April 22, 2008 }}

Alamogordo was one of the fourteen cities profiled in the 2005 documentary 14 Days in America.

{{cite web|title=Fourteen Days in America: Opening and Touring Schedule |url=http://www.14daysinamerica.com/schedule.asp |year=2005 |publisher=Mad Brit Films/David Gibbons Design |access-date=August 1, 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121181826/http://www.14daysinamerica.com/schedule.asp |archive-date=November 21, 2008 }}

{{cite news |first=Alice Louise |last=Wagoner |title='14 Days' world premier draws students, viewers |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593 |pages=1A |date=November 21, 2005 }}

The Otero County Film Office maintains a list

{{cite web

|url=http://www.filmotero.com/page.php?num=55

|title=Film History Film Otero

|access-date=August 1, 2009

|publisher=Otero County Film Office

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517050649/http://www.filmotero.com/page.php?num=55

|archive-date=May 17, 2009

}} of films shot partly or wholly in Alamogordo and Otero County.

In May 2013, Alamogordo's City Commission approved a deal for Canada-based film production company Fuel Industries to excavate the Atari landfill site.

{{cite web

| url= http://www.snopes.com/business/market/atari.asp

|title= Five Million E.T. Pieces

|access-date=May 15, 2014

|website= Snopes.com|date= March 25, 2001

}} Fuel Entertainment partnered with Xbox Entertainment Studios and Lightbox to make a documentary about the massive 1983 Atari video game burial, said to be one of the gaming culture's greatest urban legends. On April 26, 2014, video game archaeologists began sifting through years of trash from the old Alamogordo landfill.{{cite web

|url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/alamogordo-news/ci_25645294/ataris-tomb-unearth-at-old-landfill

|title=Atari's E.T. tomb unearthed at old Alamogordo landfill

|access-date=May 15, 2014

|publisher=Alamogordo Daily News

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121713/http://www.alamogordonews.com/alamogordo-news/ci_25645294/ataris-tomb-unearth-at-old-landfill

|archive-date=May 17, 2014

}} The first batch of E.T. games was discovered after about three hours of digging,

{{cite news

| url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-videogames-et-idUSBREA3Q00J20140427

|title= Atari cartridges found in New Mexico landfill

|date= April 27, 2014

|access-date=May 15, 2014

|work= Reuters.}} and hundreds more were found in the mounds of trash and dirt scooped by a backhoe.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_25645704/atari-e-t-games-found-landfill

|title=Atari 'E.T.' games found in Alamogordo landfill

|access-date=May 15, 2014

|publisher=Las Cruces News

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517154041/http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_25645704/atari-e-t-games-found-landfill

|archive-date=May 17, 2014

}} In the deal between the City of Alamogordo and Fuel Entertainment regarding the excavation, Fuel Entertainment was to be given 250 games or 10 percent of what was found.

The major intercity surface routes from Alamogordo are U.S. Highways 54, 70, and 82, all of which are four-lane roads. The major north–south street within the city is White Sands Boulevard. The Charlie T. Lee Memorial Relief Route, which is designated as U.S. Route 54 and 70, is a bypass road constructed to the west of the city in 2001 to relieve congestion on White Sands Boulevard.

{{cite press release|title=US54/70 Alamogordo Relief Route Open for Business |url=http://www.nmshtd.state.nm.us/upload/contents/436/Alamogordo%20Relief%20Route%20opening%208-31-01.pdf |publisher=State of New Mexico Highway and Transportation Department |date=August 31, 2001 |access-date=August 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081927/http://www.nmshtd.state.nm.us/upload/contents/436/Alamogordo%20Relief%20Route%20opening%208-31-01.pdf |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}

{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Coltharp |title=Relief route dedicated |work=Alamogordo Daily News |oclc=10674593 |date=March 1, 2005 |quote=Alamogordo's relief route was dedicated yesterday, not just to a man Charlie T. Lee but to a "way of life." }}

U.S. Route 70 and U.S. Route 54 traverses through the north and south ends of the city. At the south end of the city, White Sands Boulevard is a major named street that merges into U.S. Route 54/Charles T. Lee Memorial Relief Route, running south to El Paso, Texas. In the south part of the city, U.S. Route 70 splits from U.S. Route 54 in a southwestern direction towards Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands National Park, White Sands Missile Range, and Las Cruces. At the north end of the city, White Sands Boulevard and the Charles T. Lee Memorial Relief Route become a merged U.S. Route 54 and U.S. Route 70 running north to Tularosa. U.S. Route 82 starts at the same point and runs east to Cloudcroft and the mountain communities of Otero County, and then to Artesia. Meanwhile, in Tularosa, U.S. 70 and U.S. 54 both split in which U.S. 70 heads east through the mountains, and towards Ruidoso and Roswell, while U.S. 54 heads north towards Carrizozo and keeps going north until it heads east again starting in Vaughn.

File:Alamogordo New Mexico White Sands Regional Airport terminal.JPG

Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport is the municipal airport located in the Alamogordo area. It is primarily used for general aviation.

{{cite web|title=Alamogordo – White Sands Regional Airport |url=http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/publicworks/Airport.htm |publisher=City of Alamogordo |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503135001/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/publicworks/Airport.htm |archive-date=May 3, 2009 }}

There is no longer scheduled commercial service from New Mexico Airlines, previously operated under a subsidy from the Essential Air Service program.Ended in April 2012

{{cite news | last = Wells | first = Kandra | date =January 16, 2008 | title = Confusion at Alamo airport | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

In 2008, Greyhound Lines offered intercity bus service to Alamogordo.

{{cite web|title=Locations: Alamogordo, New Mexico |url=http://www.greyhound.com/home/TicketCenter/en/terminal.asp?city=840015 |publisher=Greyhound Lines |access-date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122113531/https://www.greyhound.com/home/TicketCenter/en/terminal.asp?city=840015 |archive-date=November 22, 2008 }}

As of 2017, there was a daily shuttle van service between Alamogordo and El Paso International Airport.

{{cite web |title=Alamo Shuttle |url=http://www.alamo-elpasoshuttle.com/ |publisher=Alamo Shuttle Service |access-date=January 17, 2017}}

Z-Trans is the mass transit system, providing paratransit and scheduled service within the city center and to White Sands Mall, Holloman Air Force Base and Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino in Mescalero. Z-Trans is unusual in that it is privately owned (by Zia Therapy Center, a non-profit), although it does get some local and state subsidies.

{{cite news | last = Price | first = Joan | date =March 1, 2005 | title = Mescalero tribe, Z Trans begin public bus service | work = Alamogordo Daily News | page = 7A | oclc = 10674593

}}

Union Pacific provides railroad freight services. Currently{{when|date=August 2023}} there is no intercity passenger train service.

As of 2003, the Alamogordo city government was building a network of bike routes and walking routes. More information and maps are in the Alamogordo Comprehensive Plan.

{{cite journal

| author = Taschek Environmental Consulting

| title = Alamogordo Comprehensive Plan 2000

| publisher = City of Alamogordo

| date = March 4, 2003

| url = http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/Community+Development/Alamogordo+Comprehensive+Master+Plan+2000.pdf

| access-date = May 30, 2008

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217041338/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/Community+Development/Alamogordo+Comprehensive+Master+Plan+2000.pdf

| archive-date = December 17, 2008

| url-status = dead

| df = mdy-all

}}

{{Rp|42–44}}

In 2005, the New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association operated a Rails to Trails project to convert old railroad beds to walking trails. Its trail system in Otero County, the Cloud Climbing Rail Trail, is planned to eventually surround Alamogordo.{{Rp|45}}

{{cite news | last = Shinabery | first = Michael | date =January 12, 2005 | title = Springer hails rail trails | work = Alamogordo Daily News | oclc = 10674593

}}

Electric power is supplied within the city by PNM Resources. PNM also provides electrical power in the Tularosa Basin, while Otero County Electric Cooperative, a member cooperative of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and of Touchstone Energy, serves other areas of the county.

{{cite web|title=Otero County Electric Cooperative, Inc. |url=http://ocec-inc.com/index.cfm |publisher=Otero County Electric Cooperative, Inc. |access-date=September 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630130639/http://www.ocec-inc.com/index.cfm |archive-date=June 30, 2010 }}

Natural gas is supplied within the city by New Mexico Gas Company. Severn Trent operates both the water and sewage treatment facilities for the City of Alamogordo. Severn Trent maintains all water storage facilities, booster pump stations, city wells and treats the waste water to be re-used by the city to water the parks, Desert Lakes Golf Course and is sold to construction companies for dust control. Rural houses have individual wells.

{{cite journal

| last = Schmittle

| first = Maureen K.

| date = September 2007

| title = Water Projects for Alamogordo

| journal = City Profile

| page = 2

| publisher = City of Alamogordo

| url = http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/City+Profile/September+Profile.pdf

| access-date = May 31, 2008

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217041336/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/City+Profile/September+Profile.pdf

| archive-date = December 17, 2008

| url-status = dead

| df = mdy-all

}}

Alamogordo has a dark sky ordinance to reduce the amount of light pollution in the night skies.{{Rp|Article 31}} The ordinance was passed in 1990 to promote the growth and scientific productivity of Apache Point Observatory.

{{cite report |title=Alamogordo City Commission Meeting Minutes for November 13, 1990 |pages=13–16 |publisher = City of Alamogordo }}

City streetlights are high-pressure sodium vapor lamps.

{{cite web

|url= http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/Article+and+Information/letters+2008.pdf

|title= Letters from February through May 2008: Letter to the Editor from Maureen K. Schmittle, Public Communications Manager submitted May 12, 2008

|access-date= July 30, 2009

|publisher= City of Alamogordo

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718022609/http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/Article+and+Information/letters+2008.pdf

|archive-date= July 18, 2011

|url-status= dead

|df= mdy-all

}}

File:Gerald-Champion-Regional-Medical Center main building.jpg

Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center is a private not-for-profit 99-bed general hospital that serves the Alamogordo area. The hospital is a shared military/civilian facility that is also the hospital for nearby Holloman Air Force Base.

{{cite web|title=GCRMC History |url=http://www.gcrmc.org/gc.nsf/View/History |publisher=Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center |access-date=August 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502213033/http://www.gcrmc.org/gc.nsf/View/History |archive-date=May 2, 2009 }}

The Otero County Community Health Council prepares a detailed health profile{{cite journal|title=Otero County Community Health Profile FY2008 |publisher=Otero County Community Health Council |url=http://oterohealthcouncil.org/resources/HealthProfileFY08.pdf |access-date=May 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217041336/http://oterohealthcouncil.org/resources/HealthProfileFY08.pdf |archive-date=December 17, 2008 }}

each year with many facts and figures about health in Otero County. Otero County is ranked in the middle of most health rankings within the state. New Mexico is near the bottom of most national rankings; for example, it was 38th in the United Health Foundation 2007 report, but has been slowly improving (it was 40th in 2005).

{{cite web

|url= http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/ahr2007/states/NewMexico.html

|archive-url= https://archive.today/20080417081424/http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/ahr2007/states/NewMexico.html

|url-status= dead

|archive-date= April 17, 2008

|title= America's Health Rankings, State Snapshots: New Mexico

|access-date=May 31, 2008

|publisher= United Health Foundation

}}

Among scientists, Edward Condon, a physicist and a past director of National Institute of Standards and Technology, was born in Alamogordo.{{cite web|last=Branscomb |first=Lewis M. |author-link=Lewis M. Branscomb |title=Washington University Libraries Special Collections – About Wayman Crow – Edward U. Condon, 1902–1974 |url=http://library.wustl.edu/units/spec/exhibits/crow/condonbio.html |date=July 17, 2008 |publisher=Washington University in St. Louis |access-date=July 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105115850/http://library.wustl.edu/units/spec/exhibits/crow/condonbio.html |archive-date=January 5, 2013 }}

Alan Hale, an astronomer and co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, grew up in Alamogordo and lives in nearby Cloudcroft.{{cite web |title=Biography of Alan Hale |url=http://www.swisr.org/ahbio.html |date=October 31, 2008 |publisher=Southwest Institute for Space Research |access-date=July 28, 2009}}

Among politicians, Edwin L. Mechem, a past governor and United States Senator from New Mexico, was born in Alamogordo,{{cite web |title=MECHEM, Edwin Leard, (1912–2002) Biographical Information |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000623 |work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=July 28, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090808203621/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000623| archive-date= August 8, 2009 | url-status= live}} as was Cindy Chavez, a past member of the city council of San Jose, California.{{cite news|first=Daniel |last=DeBolt |title=Chavez put on the spot: Mayoral candidate answers our many questions |url=http://www.almadentimes.com/images/at_5_12.pdf |work=Almaden Times Weekly |publisher=Times Media, Inc. |pages=1, 22–23 |date=May 12–18, 2006 |access-date=July 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203213526/http://www.almadentimes.com/images/at_5_12.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2008 }}

Edward Lee Howard, a former CIA case agent who allegedly gave classified material to the Russians and later defected to the Soviet Union, was an Alamogordo native.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In sports, professional soccer player Adam Frye, jockey Donna Barton Brothers, and former professional American football cornerback Conrad Hamilton were all born in Alamogordo.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} Professional golf brothers Brad and Bart Bryant are from Alamogordo.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Alexis Duprey, crowned Miss New Mexico in 2013 and again in 2015, is from Alamogordo.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} Mai Shanley, who became Miss USA 1984, represented the city as Miss New Mexico USA.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The lead singer of the 2020 Grammy-nominated Black Pumas, Eric Burton, grew up in Alamogordo and graduated from Alamogordo High School.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Alamogordo, New Mexico}}

{{Wikivoyage|Alamogordo}}

• {{official website|http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/}}
• [http://www.alamogordo.com/ Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce]

{{Alamogordo, New Mexico}}

{{Otero County, New Mexico}}

{{New Mexico}}

{{New Mexico county seats}}

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Category:1898 establishments in New Mexico Territory

Category:Tularosa Basin

Category:County seats in New Mexico

Category:Cities in Otero County, New Mexico

Category:Micropolitan areas of New Mexico

Category:Populated places established in 1898

Category:Cities in New Mexico